Desk.



No. 697,266. Patented Apr. 8, |902. W. J. MGDEVITT.

DESK.

n filed May 11, 1899. Rene e c (Nn Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

72 All I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TILIJIAM .I. MCDEVITT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,266, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed May 11,1899. Renewed October 1l, 1901. Serial No. 78,392. KNO model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Bo it known that I, WILLIAM J. McDEvIrr,

of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State ofPennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in desks, and particularly to that class wherein the lid or coveris adaptedrto fold up to close the body thereof and when unfolded or lowered forms a table for the writer. Heretofore in desks of this character it has in some cases been customary to provide chains or jointed arms the respective terminals of which have been pivoted to the body of the desk and to the lid or cover, so that the latter when lowered may be given support; but the said chains or jointed arms have formed an obstruction to the free use of the lid when lowered, owing to the fact that they project outwardly from the body of the desk to a point near the front edge of the lid or cover, which confines the user to the space between said chains orjointed arms. Again, the chains or jointed arms above referred to have given but indifferent support to the lid or cover, not giving that rigidity or steadiness which is desirable. Now by my invention these chains orjoiuted arms are dispensed with and in their stead simple, inexpensive, and effective supports are provided whereby the lid or cover is rigidly sustained, said supports being so arranged that the entire surface of theV lid is free from obstruction.

My invention consists of a desk of this character comprising a body having a convenient arrangement of compartments therein, a lid or cover therefor, movable supports adjacent said cover and upon which the latter rests when lowered for use, and means for automatically moving said supports in and out simultaneously with the closing and opening of the desk.

It further consists in the combination, with the desk, of movable repositories adapted to hold ink-Wells, pen-wipers, stationery, and other paraphernalia, said repositories being moved into proper position for use when the lid is lowered and moved out of the Way when the lid or cover is raised "to close the desk.

It further consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed in the appended claims.

Figure l represents a perspective View of a desk constructed according to my invention, the same being shown open ready for use. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same, showing the desk closed. Fig. 8 represents a central vertical section taken through the movable compartment wherein the ink-well and pen-wiper are held, the lid or cover in this instance being shown lowered and said compartment brought forward into position for use. Fig. 4- represents a similar View taken through the compartment wherein the stationery and other paraphernalia are held, the lid in this instance being closed and said compartment being moved out of the Way.

Fig 5 represents a perspective view of one of the hinges for the lid or cover removed.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to said drawings, l designates the body of the desk, supported upon the legs 2, both of which may be of any desired or ornamental character.

As shown in the drawings, the construction of the body7 l of the desk closely resembles that of desks of a similar character at present in use, the saine being formed with a solid back 3, a top piece 4, and end pieces 5, which latter incline downwardly yand outwardly from the top 4 to a point iiushwith the front edge of the table 6 and to which they arev secured in any usual or convenient manner.

The table 6 is provided with horizontal guideways 7 adjacent the end. pieces 5 and parallel therewith,l saidl guideways being adapted to receive therein sliding bars S, the outer ends of which form the supports for the lid or cover when the latter is lowered, as will be described.

The interior of the body l is provided at each end with compartments 9 and 10, re spectively, the former being adapted to receive therein a movable block or base 11,which is provided with cavities to receive therein ink-wells 12 and pen-wiper 13, said block or base being further provided with a vertical jextension 14, from which project hooks 15,

thus forming a convenient and effective pen or pencil rack. The compartment 10 at the IOO opposite end of .the body 1 is adapted to receive a repository 16, for paper, envelops, stamps, dec., said repository being mounted upon a base 17, similar in every respect to that 11 just described.

18 designates rods, the respective ends of which are secured to the blocks or bases 11 and 17 and to the bars or rails 8, so that when the latter are moved forward and backward by mechanism to be described said blocks or bases 11 and 17 Will be caused to move simultaneously with them.

The forward ends of the blocks or bases 11 and 17 are recessed, as shown at 19, to receive therein links 20,.which are pivoted therein and to arms 2l, which latter are in turn pivoted to the lid or cover 22 at 23, sothat when said cover or lid is moved upwardly upon its hinges 24E the rods 21 will cause the links 2O to move upon their pivots until said links shall have engaged the upper Walls of the recesses 19, and a continued movement will cause the blocks or bases 11 and 17 to be moved rearwardly, and coincidently therewith the bars 8 through the agency of the rods 18 will also be moved rearwardly until their front ends will be in line flush with the front edge of the table 6, as best seen in Figs.

2 and 4. l v

The action of lowering the lid toy open the desk Will through the arms 21 and links 2O cause the blocks or bases 11 and 17 to be moved forward partially out of their respec-` tive compartments, so that access may be' readily had to the ink-well, pen-rack, and

Y stationery-repository, as will be apparent.

The lid or cover 22 is provided with grooves 25at'or near each end thereof, which are preferably square in transverse section, and the arms 21are made correspondingly square, so that When the lid has been opened and assumed the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the arms will lie in the grooves flush with the lid, as will be apparent, thus providing a into the grooves 25 in the lid or cover and in similar grooves 30, formed in the table 6. As will be observed, said hinges consist of the members 31, having oppositely-disposed vertical walls 32, pivoted together at 32, and intervening horizontal portions 33, which latter are provided With holes 34E for screws 35, which secure the same within the grooves 25 and 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The armsv 21 will lie between the walls 32 when the lid is in its lowered position, and hinges will be practically concealed from view.

It is obvious that my invention provides in a simple inexpensive manner a desk which is particularly well adapted for the purposes intended and one wherein the Whole surface of the lid may be used, it being apparent that the movable compartments will retain the ink-Well, pen-Wiper, and stationery, duc., in such manner as to preclude all possibility of damage to the desk through the possible upsetting of the ink-Well.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A desk of the character described, comprising a body and a hinged cover or lid therefor, movable supports adjacent said lid and body, and adapted to sustain the lid when in its lowermost position, movable compartments arranged within the body of the desk, and arms connected to the'lid, links pivoted to the arms and attached to the compartments for automatically and simultaneously moving said supports and compartments with the opening and closing of the desk.

2. A desk of the character described, comprising a body provided with guideways, said body having movable compartments therein, adapted to hold an ink-Well, pen-wiper, penrack, and stationery, a hinged lid or cover for said body, movable supports adapted to move in guideways formed in the body of the desk, and to support said lid or cover when in its lowermost position, and arms connected to the lid, links pivoted to the arms and attached to the compartments and to the supports whereby said supports and compartments are automatically moved with the opening and closing of the desk.

IOO

A desk of the character described, com- IIO nected to the compartments and to the supports to move therewith, substantially as described.

WILLIAMV J.y McDEvITr.

Vitnesses:

J. A. RENNIE, W. M. McDEvITT. 

